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This is the Hints page for Energy Saving Hints and Tips.
Many of these will be obvious, easy to do, common-sense items. However, it does take a bit of effort and discipline to do them frequently enough to make a difference to your Gas and Electricity bills. I will try to structure this so it builds up to more complex stuff as you go down the page, so you can stop when you reach the point you want to go to. I will try to put in links to other sites and reference information to aid those wanting more in-depth information, or more technical detail.
- The number one easy item is - if there is no-one in a room, TURN THE LIGHT OFF. If you and ALL your other household members get into this habit, it can save on your bill noticeably over a year. Have a look around the house, I BET there is one on you forgot.
- When filling your kettle, ONLY fill it enough for the cups you need to make NOW. Most jug kettles are around 3 kW - so this can add up dramatically over a month. The less water there is (must be over your minimum mark), the quicker it comes to the boil, and switches itself off.
- Fit CFL Lamps (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) in place of some of your normal Tungsten Lamps. These are especially useful where you have a porch or outside lamp on for long periods. NOTE: most of the standard CFL are NOT DIMMABLE. See HERE for links to dimmable makes. See HERE for information on wattage equivalents for the low-energy CFL. I would not recommend them for hall/stairs/landing, as there is still a couple of minutes “warmup” period to achieve full brightness, so partially sighted people should NOT use these in critical areas. See HERE for sensible advice on this from RNIB. By the way, I have found that most well-known makes of the SPIRAL CFL will warm up quite quickly, usually within a few seconds
- Some energy suppliers are offering FREE Low-Energy lamps, so if you get a form, fill it in (some give away up to 4).
- If you have an outdoor security light with a 500W lamp in it, change it for a 300W one (same length) when it fails. Also consider changing it for a PIR driven one, if it is a manually switched one.
- If you have a dual-rate electricity meter (often called an ECONOMY7 meter), you can make use of off-peak electricity charges being MUCH LOWER than the daytime rate (roughly one-quarter). To do this, if you have appliances such as a dishwasher, or a washing machine, or a tumble-drier, use any delay-timers to your advantage, and have them come on between 3AM and 7AM. Most people will be in a “deep sleep” at 3AM, and unlikely to be woken up by filling or spinning etc. Obviously you will be limited if you machine is very noisy, or directly under your bedroom.
- If you don’t have a dual-rate electricity meter (often called an ECONOMY7 meter), you MAY be able to change to this type. Some energy providers might charge, some might not. Many new houses built in the mid-eighties had these fitted, but were the old mechanical disk type. After about 20 years, many meters reach the end of their certification life, and are replaced with the new fully electronic meter. See these two links for more information on meters: NWML ONSTREAM
- For appliances that do NOT have a delay-timer, check if they will work with a plug-in timer on the supply socket. If your appliance has a mechanical start knob, rather than an electronic button, you may be in luck, but check your manual. This way you can set it to start within your off-peak electricity use period.
- Try turning your hot-water tank-thermostat down a couple of degrees (say 53 instead of 55), to save a bit of gas.
- If you have a timer, shorten the “ON” times to closely match the times you actually need the Central Heating on. If you have multiple ON/OFF times, use them to your advantage.
- Ensure that all hot pipework in your airing-cupboard is lagged with FOAM TUBE lagging (very cheap from most DIY suppliers). The minimum is a meter from any hot tank, but it is best to lag any visible hot pipework, to minimise heat losses. Don’t forget to lag your power-shower pipes as well.
- It goes without saying, that your hot-water tank should be lagged. If your old tank has the old-style lagging jacket, it may now be time to change the tank for the foam covered type, with much better heat retaining properties. Ensure your replacement is made to the British Standard BS1566:2002(PART L).
- If you feel your tank is still in good condition, ensure that the lagging jacket is 75mm thick. If it is in bad condition, replace it.
- If your loft is not insulated to the recommended depth of 270mm, then you may still be loosing more heat energy than you should. Check the link HERE to see information on grants and offers that may be available to you.
- Check with the Energy Saving Trust to see what products are available and have the Energy Saving Recommended Logo
- If your home does NOT currently have cavity wall insulation, get some quotes, and see if there are any grants available in your area.
REFERENCES:
DIMMABLE CFL:
TLC-DIRECT and GWSUPPLIES and try LIGHTBULBSUK
Eco-tips for homeowners that don’t cost the world
Michael Holmes, National Home Improvement Show spokesperson says: “New research conducted by the Energy Saving Trust reveals that making UK homes energy efficient would cost less than £3000 per house.
“There are a number of ways in which a house can be bought up to average green standards for under £3000 including insulation (whether attic or cavity wall) and installing a new boiler, specifically, a condensing boiler.”
Michael gives five ways budget friendly to make your home greener on a budget:
1. Insulation
Effective roof insulation could make savings of up to 15-20 per cent on your heating bill each year and so pay-back can be achieved in as little as two to three years. Additional savings can also be made quite easily by using left over insulation materials to wrap around piping and water tanks to prevent further heat loss.
2. Boilers
Installing a new boiler will also make significant savings; The Energy Savings Trust estimates this to be up to £200 per year for the equivalent of 1.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Prices start from around £400 for a condensing boiler (not including installation) and homeowners can choose from gas, electric or oil fired.
3. Secondary glazing
The installation of a secondary glazing system can be fitted easily to the window frame. A whole house can be done for as little as £700 with savings of around 40 per cent to your energy bill each year. These are easily installed and perfect for older or listed properties where you can’t change the windows.
4. Water consumption
30 per cent of our water consumption comes from the toilet. Either flush less or install a displacement device which will reduce the amount of water used per flush, saving as much as 40 per cent of water annually.
Fix any dripping tap – it will save as much as 5000 litres of water a year! If you are looking for an excuse not do the dishes then use your dishwasher – it uses less water and saves approximately £15 per year.
5. Keeping it simple
Install under-door insulation by stuffing an old woollen stocking with unwanted clothes. The old fashioned ‘snake’ can cut down on a huge amount of wasted heat.
Don’t forget that the energy saving light bulbs cost as little as £3 (or less at some supermarkets) and can save you up to £40 per year.
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